Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to Evaluate Environmental Impacts of Bioenergy Projects

The utilization of biomass for energy, particularly power and transportation fuels, is being promoted in many countries for various reasons such as use of local materials and the apparent environmental benefits. However, biomass utilization is not renewable and sustainable unless certain conditions are satisfied. The evaluation of environmental impacts requires the consideration of the entire life cycle to ensure that the impacts from one phase are not simply displaced to another, showing undue environmental advantages. Using the examples of three biomass chains - sugarcane, oil palm and jatropha - experiences are drawn from studies conducted on energy and environmental assessment using a life cycle approach. The results show that importance of using life cycle assessment (LCA) as the tool for evaluating environmental impacts of bioenergy systems. The LCA studies also reveal that for the utilization of biomass resources to be sustainable, it is important that all the by-products are efficiently utilized. The development of biomass conversion facilities in the form of biorefineries is highlighted as a means to this end.